Player Updates

1547241019

Mets' Zack Wheeler: Earns big raise

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Wheeler and the Mets avoided arbitration with a one-year, $5.975 contract Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Wheeler will earn a raise of over $4 million after making $1.9 million last season. The new salary is well-deserved after the 28-year-old recorded a career-best 3.31 ERA in 29 starts in his first full season back from a lengthy injury absence.

Manager Mickey Callaway said Wednesday that Wheeler will be shut down for the rest of the 2018 campaign due to an innings restriction, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Callaway stated, "Given the fact that Wheeler is at 101 innings more than what he pitched last year; the way he pitched, pitching deep into games...we are really excited about the year he had and we feel like we would probably be taking the best care of him that we can if we shut him down at this point." Wheeler will finish the year at 182.1 innings, posting a career-best 3.31 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with an 8.8 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. The 28-year-old recently finished off his season on a high note, securing a third straight victory while giving up four earned runs across seven innings against Philadelphia on Monday. In his place, Corey Oswalt will take the hill Saturday versus Washington.

Wheeler (12-7) allowed four runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four over seven innings and securing the win Monday against Philadelphia.

Wheeler certainly didn't put together his best performance, but he kept his team in the ballgame until the Mets managed to pull ahead in the seventh inning. Prior to the series opener, he'd delivered a quality start in each of his previous five starts, going 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 39 strikeouts over that span (36 innings). Following the game, it was revealed by manager Mickey Callaway that Wheeler's season may be over due to innings restrictions, per Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record.

Wheeler (11-7) got the win against the Marlins on Wednesday, tossing eight shutout innings while scattering just four hits, striking out seven batters and issuing no walks in a 13-0 victory.

There doesn't seem to be an end in sight for Wheeler's recent ridiculous run, as he's now 8-1 over his last 10 starts. This may have been his best outing yet over that stretch, as he completely befuddled the Marlins while easily cruising to his 11th win of the season on an evening where he got plenty of support from his offense. Wheeler is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball at the moment, and his numbers on the season are now reflecting the extent of his recent dominance, as he's sporting a 3.23 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP and 175 strikeouts through 167.1 innings.

Wheeler (chest) is scheduled to start Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Marlins.

Wheeler took a Justin Turner liner off his chest in his last start, but tests came back negative and he won't be forced to miss a turn through the rotation. The 28-year-old has been locked in during the second half of the season, posting an impressive 1.50 ERA and 62:12 K:BB across nine starts (60 innings).